The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-03-26
The Dispute OF the Trees.

was quiet, there were suddenly heard Il
voice which said;
''See how tall and stately | am; why,
can look down on all the trees around
me. Surely, must be the grandcst oil
all trees.
The trees all rustlod their leaves, and
wondered who il was that was talking,
even the fish and frogs looked up, to see
who had broken the stiffness of the
woods with such n boastful voice.
Again il was heard to say;
Just see how ! tower way above
them ALL
well, | declare, there is that old
pneree Boosting OF its statelness, said
Il sturdy oak; "just let the ship bu lder
send TO this region for the longest tree,
as he wants to use it for n ship he is
building The wood cutters will come
and see him in all his glory and decide
he is just what is wanted and soon men
will be at work with saws, and then
whore will be his glory?"
"As for That" said the pine, '1'm
sure that would not be so bad. to be so
important part of the ship"
But" said the oak, "if l am L0t
quite as tall as YOU certainly have
more TO be proud of than you, for my
foliage is much handsomer, and then,
too, / bear nuts, which are food Tor
squirrels, rabbits, pigs and other ami
mails. -"
Listen to that foolish talk" said
the chestnut. True, | don't always
grow perfectly straight, but know
that my leaves are fully as handsome
as those of the oak. and rs to nuts, why
ms nuts are not only good for animals
to eat but am highly priced by child
Eren, and adults, too, are very fond of
my sweet nuts And in the fall when
they are ripe what sport the girls and
boys have when they come to gather
my nuts.
A very fine orchard was quite near
the woods where these trees stood, and
they, too, joined in the conversation.
First the cherry tree told of its lucious
ripe fruit and how highly twas pr zed.
ESPECIALLY, you know" said the
cherry tree, latter tho long winter
months, my fruit ripen in time TO be a
revival to the much-sought-ior straw.
berry. and am very highly priced"
"Oh. dear!" said the peach, chow
soon you are forgotten when the warm
sun begins to put color on my checks.
And who does not prefer peach TO a
cherry ?"
True, very truev' said the pear,
''but you are so very delicate that you
can stand any rough handling and
soon after being picked you begin to
show decay. Now l will keep for a
long time. and after you have been for
gotten Igive pleasure with my deli
cious flavor.
well declared" said the apple
tree, '.you may all boast of your delica-
cy and fine flavor, but none Of YOU ever
give such solid comfort on W nters
evening as a good apple. And whoever
thinks of YOU when there is snow on
tho grou nd?"
A large evergreen which stood near
the wall separatin e the woods from the
orchard ha d listened 10 all this squab-
bling, and Just when they were getting
much excited. said:
MY friends. you are right about
your merits, and each of you has his
own place 10 GIL in this world, aud no
doubt thin k me unworthy Of compar-
ing myself with you. But wait until
next Chr istmas time, where will your
glory be thenP You will be standing
here all bare. and not a sign of leaf
on your branches, much less your much
talked OF fruit Then is the time look
best. l then am just as green as l am
to-day. and then am cut down and
used for n Christmas tree.
.And such fruit as bear then-huis,
apples, oranges, candy, books, toys
and sometimes very costly rugs and
bracelets And TO crown all, am COW
cred with wax candles, which, when
burning, make all who behold me ex-
Ella IN. ooh, how beautiful And my
friends, | think, after all. make the
most people happy, and therefore. | am
Inc grandest of all of you. at least ! am
sure the little boys and girls will think